The Rainbow Nation Does Not Yet Exist
My first few weeks in South Africa were spent in a state of extreme culture shock. Nothing was, as I had led to believe – not even the weather. It was winter in Andalusia, Spain, if I go to, what should the height of summer in South Africa. The first few days were so cold, I ended up wearing the same clothes winter in. I had arrived and it rained and rained and rained.
Although I had lived and worked in West Africa, I worked knew that South Africa was very different. One of myMisunderstanding was that I be able to take public transport and would travel around on your own. It was soon clear that not so come into question. It was too dangerous.
At this point I must stress that everything I write is based on my experience living in a suburb of Pieter Marit Zberg. What can I describe may or may not be representative of South Africa in general.
Safety is top priority for all of us. I had expected to be a security problem, but not to the extentthat's it. Every house seems to have strong fencing topped with barbed wire, and most have electric gates. Conspicuous signs "Twenty Four-Hour Surveillance. Armed Response" are standard.Armed answer just means what it says. In addition, most people in the region have been frighteningly large guard dogs. Hostess My neighbor has two wild dogs. Obviously before buying or leasing a property, the first consideration is the safety precautions.
I know I willreally upset many people, using the terms "White", "Black", "Indian" etc, but the fact of the matter is that it is not possible to describe the situation in South Africa without the use of these terms. There is no value or moral judgments about my use of these terms included.
All shopping malls have strict security precautions. Armed guards outside positions, banks and ATMs. Security personnel in the malls are well trained and have found themselves involved in shoot outs. A shop in a mallwith bullet damage, which was addressed to me to. An outlet in a shopping mall was the sale of weapons and had the worst-looking, large knife to see. I noticed a man had a dark navy riot gear who stood with his arms held to his chest like a cowboy in a movie at the beginning of a shootout. He reminded me of a perfect, efficient androids. Iron watchfullness in every waking eyes made my hair stand on end. South African security forces are much sought after in the MiddleEast.
The police is perceived to be too much. They are very well paid and benefits like good health insurance, mortgages, spacious living room and enjoy the use of the police vehicle.
The local newspaper regularly published details of the theft (usually by force) function. While I was there was a shooting came in Pietersburg Marit Zberg caused two deaths. The incident has been, or are suspected to be linked to "taxi wars."
One afternoon we were all sitting at home when there was a sharpReport further up the road. When I asked what it was told Donnette totally unmoved that there was a gunshot.
People seem to take the violence and calm fatalism. They avoid certain areas of the city, all safety precautions knowing that really determined intruder into the case anyway. Such times bring the best and worst in people.
I arrived in South Africa under the impression that everything works with the efficiency with an associatedindustrialized society. That was a mistake on my part.
When I arrived, Donnette, whose work depends entirely on the Internet had not e-mail access for two weeks Telcomsa had problems. The telephone landlines are completely unpredictable. Getting a little harder involved many long and expensive calls to a cell phone reported the problem. Check for someone who really knew what they were saying was a long, frustrating process.
The people in the service sector, inmost were pleasant enough, and there were some who looked favorably on me with her charm. But the company does not appear, at least for me to get interested in creating long-term customers is the focus on the here and now. Donnette and I went to print flyers. We have calculated separately for 10 minutes of computer time, download the PDF file and printing the pictures – Fair enough. Donnette then asked the assistant if he were the pages guillotine. Yes, he was able to fifty cents per page. Donnetteand assistants began to laugh at the shocked expression on his face. We only had a few pages so Donnette did the job. The things that can be charged as extras are showing an astonishing amount of ingenuity.
Public services for regular and efficient service offerings are not particularly hard when it comes to settling bills. When customers even one day late in the settlement of telephone, water or electricity bills are the service that is disconected and 50% added to the end of the load.
AnotherError of mine was how would the landscape and the people. Perhaps I have seen too many animals that wind up programs in the dry season when all eyes, brown and withered. My visit was co-led incided with an exceptionally wet summer, the rivers, their banks. KwaZulu Natal is incredibly beautiful and was a brilliant green, while I was there. It soon became clear to me how many common English garden plants are actually indigenous to Southern Africa. The trees were fromnative species known (or so it seemed) in West Africa. The Drakensberg Mountains rose in the background and the landscape in a strange way reminded me of parts of England – no wonder English settlers were attracted here. I have never stopped exclaming, was how beautiful the views.
The West African urban street scene is lively, vibrant and colorful. The areas where Pietermarizberg that it was safe to visit and had to be blunt as if time has stood still. It was not alwaysas I was assured. Many people remember a time when it was safe to sit in a park or a concert or other event. It was only later I realized the central Pieter Marit Zberg (the capital of KwaZulu-Natal) has very much a "white" area in the apartheid era.
To experience a lively atmosphere, it is necessary to venture into what was formerly the field exclusively to the "Indians" and "blacks". In West Africa, people are traveling and wearing bright prints fashionedtraditional clothing. At least in the areas of KwaZulu Natal, where I went people were dressed in a very monotonous and uninteresting. I know that there are still beautiful costumes that are worn on special occasions. My comment relates specifically to life.
Women from the poorer groups, all seemed to wear long skirts or dresses with what was in my eyes, a mixed bag of accompanying garments. I remember a "Zulu" lady wrapped in a thick winter coatProcedures with great dignity along the street. It looked like a Guy Fawkes figure was quite beautiful in its dignity and strength.
I have never in my life as encountered many seriously overweight people of both sexes. I was told that this is due to poor diet, on the part of both the "Afrikaans" and "Zulu" populations. The "Afrikaners" and "White" population in general, love meat – biltong (dried meat) boereworse (sausage), droe bad (dry salami) and incredibly calorific value such as pastriesKoeksister as a roast (braided soaked in sweet syrup). There are advertisements for slimming products, salons and slimming pills and potions anywhere. I did not get the impression that the exercise of these peoples on the agenda. After this comment, there were many young people are seen, cycling and jogging.
The Zulu diet is very heavy on carbohydrates and people seem to gain weight, even though they work hard physically. What really upset me was children whoalready reached morbidly obese proportions. The relationship between obesity and disease seems not to be made.
Everyone is affected by the global economic recession. Young people of all races are trying to emigrate and find work abroad. The new Constitution of South Africa is not very unhappy, a level playing field for all its citizens. I was informed that "whites" are not entitled to State child support or free school and free health care are .. If this is so (duringPersonally understanding the psychology behind the ruling) is still not tolerate any legislation that does not give all citizens equal rights. While it may be that "white" South Africa is still one of the wealthier strata of society there are many who are struggling to pay school fees and to pay medical bills. Not everyone can afford health insurance. I know people who can no longer afford to buy their long-term prescribed medication.
As everywhere, there are always people who do notready to do anything to help themsleves. It is a known "white" woman standing in the middle of the road at a crossroads, a cardboard sign. She is a beggar, and has operated at this point for years. Morning and evening, she is transported to and from their bad luck with the car. She owns a house. Many years ago the owner of a local restaurant offered her practice as a waitress. He was willing to pay her a basic wage of (generally not offered), and said she would also receive commission. Tenderswas rejected because she could keep the women make more money by begging. I was not in a position to find out, who actually gave her money. One suggestion was that the "Indian" Muslim community to be generous, you could.
KwaZulu-Natal has the largest population of "Indian" origin of South Africa. Some people in South Africa for so long that when she came out on the Indian subcontinent, is unknown to them, and they have never been in South Africa. There are two different groupssome are Muslims and other Hindu. Many people of "Indian" origin of the opinion that their contribution in the struggle against apartheid has not been sufficiently recognized, and that they are still discriminated against.
The shopping centers are weak, old and disabled often "stuffed white" South Africans. Somewhat to my surprise, I felt deeply sorry. It is not easy to adapt in the later years of life, massive social and economic changes.
In the same way I felt incredibly sadThe idea that there are so many "Black" South Africans are still without basic facilities, schools, and often without hope. Things are improving, but the question is, they will improve fast enough for the masses, which promised so much.
All the people I met on my trip were open and friendly – really delightful. But there is always a burning pain and deep sadness that I never could as a human being in Africa a "black" South Africans on a social basis to cover. My friends a "white" is a"Do not look Indian" and have never seen people in terms of color. They behave in the same friendly and courteous manner to everyone. A friend has to help himself in trouble with the authorities to "Black" South Africans. The father of my other friend was a political activist, who had left the country, and twenty years in exile in England.
Once this friend and I were on our way to the ladies rest room with women of all colors, when I noticed that not so long ago, we wouldAll had to use various facilities. My friend started telling me about this time. Suddenly, I felt that the issue would also be painful for both of us and I backed off.
Apartheid in South Africa created settled for a life where everything was, from birth to death by the skin color. Real social contacts between the groups was virtually impossible. Now South Africa is in a position where people want to get to know each other, but not necessarily know how to build bridges.It seemed to me that the various groups do not know too much about each other. Must be built from this diversity is a common South African culture. A culture that everyone can identify. The "Rainbow Nation" is still in the future.
This is of course not happen overnight. Schools are integrated and all students need to learn Afrikaans and an African language. This is a big step forward, but true integration will take some time. I would love to do return to workSouth Africa with culture and education, or lecturing teachers about the benefits of dance and movement therapy for children associated with special needs.
Related posts:
Posted: November 26th, 2009 under Slimming Pills Articles.
Tags: Nation, Rainbow